Staff Sgt. Mark Rawson, a team leader serving with Force Reconnaissance Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, speaks during a memorial ceremony here, March 25, 2013. Staff Sgt. Caleb Medley, a reconnaissance man who served as a field radio operator with Force Reconnaissance Co., died during a skydiving training incident Feb. 26. Medley had a strong passion for physical fitness and always challenged his fellow Marines during physical training events. - Staff Sgt. Mark Rawson, a team leader serving with Force Reconnaissance Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, speaks during a memorial ceremony here, March 25, 2013. Staff Sgt. Caleb Medley, a reconnaissance man who served as a field radio operator with Force Reconnaissance Co., died during a skydiving training incident Feb. 26. Medley had a strong passion for physical fitness and always challenged his fellow Marines during physical training events.

A squad of Marines with 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, cross a field at Camp Horno during a squad competition here, March 22, 2013. The squads hiked with full gear to various checkpoints where they completed numerous physical and mental challenges. The course focused on small-unit leadership with an emphasis in areas like land navigation, orders development and execution, and physical fitness. - A squad of Marines with 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, cross a field at Camp Horno during a squad competition here, March 22, 2013. The squads hiked with full gear to various checkpoints where they completed numerous physical and mental challenges. The course focused on small-unit leadership with an emphasis in areas like land navigation, orders development and execution, and physical fitness.

Lance Cpl. Jose Avila, a refrigeration mechanic with Regimental Combat Team 7 and a 30-year-old native of Honduras, is now a U.S. citizen, is deployed to Afghanistan, and hopes to pursue his master’s degree. “I’m a citizen, but now I am out here in Afghanistan actually getting to be a part of something,” Avila said. “ I like the idea of the Marines being badass. We go everywhere and can do every thing.” - Lance Cpl. Jose Avila, a refrigeration mechanic with Regimental Combat Team 7 and a 30-year-old native of Honduras, is now a U.S. citizen, is deployed to Afghanistan, and hopes to pursue his master’s degree. “I’m a citizen, but now I am out here in Afghanistan actually getting to be a part of something,” Avila said. “ I like the idea of the Marines being badass. We go everywhere and can do every thing.”

Lieutenant Colonel Jason Perry, the former commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, shakes the hand of Chad Wilson after his brother, Sgt. Wade Wilson, was posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal during a ceremony here, March 14, 2013. Wilson, a native of Centerville, Texas, received the nation's third highest decoration for valor for putting himself in between insurgent fire and a wounded Marine while serving in Musa Qa'leh district, Helmand province, Afghanistan on May 11, 2012. Wilson sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was mortally wounded while advancing toward the insurgent, who fled and was killed by his fellow Marines. - Lieutenant Colonel Jason Perry, the former commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, shakes the hand of Chad Wilson after his brother, Sgt. Wade Wilson, was posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal during a ceremony here, March 14, 2013. Wilson, a native of Centerville, Texas, received the nation's third highest decoration for valor for putting himself in between insurgent fire and a wounded Marine while serving in Musa Qa'leh district, Helmand province, Afghanistan on May 11, 2012. Wilson sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was mortally wounded while advancing toward the insurgent, who fled and was killed by his fellow Marines.

Trackers rarely need anything extra. They can live with the bare essentials: combat vehicle crewman uniforms, steel toe boots, gloves, eye protection, flak, Kevlar, rifle, sling, 9/16ths wrench, 15/16ths wrench and a sleeping system. Everything necessary is already inside the AAV. Outside of the gear that trackers are supposed to have, there isn’t anything that they would need. But Williams has his essentials. He packs Monsters, Ramen noodles and a portable camp stove — necessities as he calls them. - Trackers rarely need anything extra. They can live with the bare essentials: combat vehicle crewman uniforms, steel toe boots, gloves, eye protection, flak, Kevlar, rifle, sling, 9/16ths wrench, 15/16ths wrench and a sleeping system. Everything necessary is already inside the AAV. Outside of the gear that trackers are supposed to have, there isn’t anything that they would need. But Williams has his essentials. He packs Monsters, Ramen noodles and a portable camp stove — necessities as he calls them.

The 2013 Holcomb Trophy winners and their coaching team present their trophies to the crowd of Marines and family members inside the base theater during an award ceremony here, March 08, 2013. The team will be compete in the Marine Corps Championships held at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. (Official Marine Corps photos by Lance Cpl. Corey Dabney) - The 2013 Holcomb Trophy winners and their coaching team present their trophies to the crowd of Marines and family members inside the base theater during an award ceremony here, March 08, 2013. The team will be compete in the Marine Corps Championships held at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. (Official Marine Corps photos by Lance Cpl. Corey Dabney)

Corporal Michael Kelly, a fires watch chief with Regimental Combat Team 7 and 28-year-old native of Omaha, Neb., has a bachelor's in history and loves to inspire fellow Marines with stories of warriors-past. “As warriors we must never lose touch with what we are. Warriors and great men of the past have set the standard for what it means to be a warrior and must be remembered,” Kelly said. “Their legacies and deeds have shown what it means to be brave and maintain honor in the face of danger, defining what it means to be a soldier.” - Corporal Michael Kelly, a fires watch chief with Regimental Combat Team 7 and 28-year-old native of Omaha, Neb., has a bachelor's in history and loves to inspire fellow Marines with stories of warriors-past. “As warriors we must never lose touch with what we are. Warriors and great men of the past have set the standard for what it means to be a warrior and must be remembered,” Kelly said. “Their legacies and deeds have shown what it means to be brave and maintain honor in the face of danger, defining what it means to be a soldier.”

Major Gen. Ronald Bailey, commanding general of 1st Marine Division, pins the Navy and Marine Corps Medal on Lance Cpl. Benjamin Nalls, a fire team leader with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, here, March 8, 2013. Nalls received the medal for saving the life of Sgt. Erick Gutierrez, a squad leader with 1st LAR, during a patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Nalls fell into a nine-foot-deep, 15-foot-wide canal, and was being treated for hypothermia when he learned that Gutierrez had also fallen in the canal. He immediately jumped back into the frigid water and dragged Gutierrez to the riverbank, saving his life. - Major Gen. Ronald Bailey, commanding general of 1st Marine Division, pins the Navy and Marine Corps Medal on Lance Cpl. Benjamin Nalls, a fire team leader with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, here, March 8, 2013. Nalls received the medal for saving the life of Sgt. Erick Gutierrez, a squad leader with 1st LAR, during a patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Nalls fell into a nine-foot-deep, 15-foot-wide canal, and was being treated for hypothermia when he learned that Gutierrez had also fallen in the canal. He immediately jumped back into the frigid water and dragged Gutierrez to the riverbank, saving his life.

Lance Cpl. Jacob Arthur, a crew chief serving with 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion and a native of Los Angeles, spots for his partner during the 2013 Western Division Matches here, March 5. Over the course of two weeks, the competitors receive coaching from members of the Marine Corps Shooting Team and shoot for score on both rifle and pistol ranges. The shooting consists of rapid fire, slow fire and one-handed pistol shooting, all on targets smaller than what is used during annual rifle qualification. - Lance Cpl. Jacob Arthur, a crew chief serving with 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion and a native of Los Angeles, spots for his partner during the 2013 Western Division Matches here, March 5. Over the course of two weeks, the competitors receive coaching from members of the Marine Corps Shooting Team and shoot for score on both rifle and pistol ranges. The shooting consists of rapid fire, slow fire and one-handed pistol shooting, all on targets smaller than what is used during annual rifle qualification.

Sergeants Earl Roost and Ryan Vanarsdall, motor transportation operators with Georgian Liaison Team, 32nd Georgian Light Infantry Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 7, salute during a memorial ceremony for Staff Sgt. Jonathan Davis, Mar. 2. “It is important to acknowledge that Staff Sgt. Davis has provided us with the greatest gift of his leadership. He took the ownership of training Sgt. Roost and Sgt. Vanarsdall to take the lead in his absence,” said Maj. Rudy Salcido, the commanding officer of the GLT. “The fight goes on just like Staff Sergeant Davis would have wanted it.” - Sergeants Earl Roost and Ryan Vanarsdall, motor transportation operators with Georgian Liaison Team, 32nd Georgian Light Infantry Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 7, salute during a memorial ceremony for Staff Sgt. Jonathan Davis, Mar. 2. “It is important to acknowledge that Staff Sgt. Davis has provided us with the greatest gift of his leadership. He took the ownership of training Sgt. Roost and Sgt. Vanarsdall to take the lead in his absence,” said Maj. Rudy Salcido, the commanding officer of the GLT. “The fight goes on just like Staff Sergeant Davis would have wanted it.”